A big tick off the list of things to do in Paris finally occured on Saturday night....
Though I have spent many happy Happy Hours in a little Parisian brasserie here and a fancy cocktail bar there I was yet to hit the dance floor...which, as you know, is one of my favourite things to do no matter where I am in the world.
But it wasn't until my good friend Jenna popped across the channel to help me party that it finally all came together. Meeting my Brazillian friend Guilli at a dive of an area (supposedly up and coming party spot though we saw no evidence of it...) Oberkampf we quickly moved into the centre of things - a fabulous street called Rue Montogruil near Les Halles - chock full of bars and restaurants this street has fast become a bit of a favourite for me.
A few mojitos later and we were ready to party. The problem was...where?? Rue Montogreil, as far as I know, contains bars, bars and more bars, but not a nightclub to be seen. Wandering around the streets aimlessly we decided that if there was ever a time to use our french...this was it. Jenna stood back....her french is perfect in comparison to us beginners...but I think she got a kick from seeing us give it a go...
Approaching a group of three fairly friendly looking people on the street we smiled sweetly and tried to look as touristy as possible.
"Excuse-moi," I butted into their conversation. "um....ou est le discotheque?"
They laughed and smiled sweetly and forgivingly back at us (Parisians can actually be really lovely).
"I speak good english" boasted our new friend. (Thank goodness! we thought, well let's face it...anything would be better than our french!!).
He proceeded to give us directions to two possibilities down the rue...one - a real 'club' club playing electronica where the 'little girls on the dance floor are hot...' (Guilli's eyes lit up but Jenna and I were clearly unimpressed.) Or, a bar with a dance floor...'continuez down the street beaucoup beaucoup beaucoup...and tournez a gauche.'
Cool. 'Merci beaucoup to our friendly parisians...we had a plan and off we went - to the bar with the dancefloor....
Expensive drinks, a crowded dancefloor and a dj pumping out random english tunes (some of which we knew the actions to....well Jenna and I did at least - we seemed to be the only one's on the dfloor that did! We did get some strange glances and I seem to remember a flash going off in my face at one point - perhaps the crazy english don't frequent that fancy club too often doing their silly moves) and I felt right at home.
I practiced my french with the friendly dancers around us and realised that I can actually manage to communicate (albeit basically) with someone who speaks little english...probably after a few shots have loosened my inhibitions.
"Je suis Australienne', I announced happily over an Oasis tune. "Mais j'habite en Angleterre pour cinq ans."
Sadly the person I was speaking to looked confused so I screamed in his ear again - this time in English.
"um...yes, I understood you the first time'....he said....before resuming his headbanging to the Beatles.
I was thrilled! I had been understood....In French! Most of the time I'm not even understood in English. What a breakthrough.
Till next time...
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